Pellegrini had made three change from the side which lost at home to Chelsea on Monday as they looked to take full advantage of Arsenal's 5-1 defeat at Liverpool earlier on Saturday.

However, it was the relegation-threatened Canaries - hammered 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium in November - who raised their game and soaked up plenty of pressure to earn themselves what could be a crucial point in their fight to stay up.

City had hit the crossbar in the first half through a header from Alvaro Negredo.

But otherwise, Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy was rarely troubled.

The home side almost snatched victory in stoppage time too when Nathan Redmond's cross flew through the six-yard box and just eldued Ricky van Wolfswinkel.